DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Vol. I. 1958 Number 3 Cropping for Fodder Conservation and Pasture Production in the Wool-growing Areas of Western Queensland BY P. ]. SKERMAN, D.Agr.Sc., B.A., Q.D.D. Department of Agriculture , University of Queensland Fryer 53 .U695 v.l no.3 THE UNIVEHSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS, BHISBANE Printed by "TRUTH" and "SPORTSMAN" LTD. 367-373 Brunswick Street, Valley, Brisbane, Q. 1958 CROPPING FOR FODDER CONSERVATION 87 foreword The Wool Industry of Queensland conti·ihutes very largely to the prosperity of the State. In the period 19ll-1945, wool was responsible annually for 15 to 25 per cent. of the total value of production and from 50 to 60 per cent of pas­ toral production in Queensland. Of overseas exports, wool accounted for about 50 per cent. In view of the importance of this industry, it is regrettable that so little has been ploughed hack in the form of research to assist the production side of the industry. Mr. J. G. Crawford, Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, on February 2nd, 1947, requested that Australian Universities investigate the economic problems of the wool industry. This request was enthusiastically received by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland, Mr. Story, and plans were developed for work in Queensland by a Committee of University Staff, in consultation with Mr. P. A. Reid of the Bureau of J.Agri­ D. cultural Economics, to commence a Wool Research Programme. Later, an Advisory Committee was established in Queensland with repre­ sentatives from the University, Department of Agriculture and Stock and the Lands Department. The research programme in the economic field was commenced 1948 in by Mr. E. H. George, who assessed unfavourable seasonal conditions as the major factor causing sheep losses. It was evident that a detailed study of a selected district was necessary to give precision to the economic investigations, and Mr. A. R. Bird, a recent graduate in Agriculture, was appointed in January, 1949, to undertake a statistical study of the sheep industry within a hundred mile radius of Charleville. From the 200 grazing properties in the district, a random sample of 50 was selected and information obtained from the owners by personal interview on the properties. The enquiry covered three years in the field and gave further evidence of the drastic effects of drought on sheep numbers. The 1945-46 drought directly or indirectly caused the loss of one-third of the sheep population in the Charleville district as 88 P. recorded on January 1st, 1945. J. SKERMANfull discussion of this survey has been published by Mr. Bird as a University of Queenaland Faculty of Agriculture paper. A It is evident that some form of economical fodder conservation is necessary to mitigate the effects of drought. Purchased fodders are expensive and many graziers feel that the cost is prohibitive. The need to investigate the possibility of fodder production by modern dry farming methods was apparent from the economic surveys already conducted, and the University decided to continue the Wool Reaearch Programme in the field of Agronomy. It was known that a good crop of wheat could be grown on the Darling Downs with less than inches gro ing-period ainfall, provided the land had been well fallowed. 3 w r Ten inches of water, whether from rain or soil or both, would grow a good crop of wheat, taking about five months to mature. If 5 or 6 inches of water were stored in the root zone, it should be possible to grow a quick-maturing fodder crop in a fair proportion of the years where the average annual rainfall is 15-20 inches. To carry out this investigation, an experienced agronomist was required. Mr. P. Skerman was appointed Senior Lecturer in Agriculture in 1953 and took charge of the work as well as other University duties. He found that already J.tw o graziers had grown fodder crops in 1953. Mr. J. Kelman, of "Dundee," Richmond, grew a crop of forage sorghum, and Mr. McClymont of "Inverness," Muttaburra, produced a crop of Sudan grass for ensilage using dry-farming methods. A. C. In order to cover the Western wool-growing districts, four sites were selected for study of the growing of fodder crops, principally forage sorghum for ensilage, and a variety of legumes and pasture species. Associated with three seasons of abnormally high rainfall, results have been outstandingly good. During this period, some thirty graziers have grown sorghum for ensilage and it is estimated that about 80,000 tons of forage have been ensiled as a result of opportunist farming in these good years. Yields of 8 to 10 tons of green matter per acre have been common. Modern machinery has made ensilage a practical proposition with a 11inimum of labour. The three years of good results are very encouraging . and an incentive to carry on the investigations to determine accurately the soil, climatic and crop factors which will determine the success of the project over a period of years, good, had and indifferent. Many graziers and a number of hanks and machinery firms have co­ operated to finance this work, which is very costly on account of long distances necessitating air travel. To these, grateful acknowledgment is made, and an invitation offered to all interested in the future of the industry to support the University to ensure a continuation of investigations. commend this progress report on the production of fodder crops in I the Western Queensland to readers, both in the technical and grazing fields. L. J. H. TEAKLE PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE 89 Cropping for Fodder Conservation and Pasture Production in the Wool-growing Areas of Western Queensland by P. J. SKERMAN I. INTRODUCTION Queensland's wool-growing area (Fig. 1) is contained largely within the 10-inch and 20-inch isohyets with an extension eastwards into the 20 to 25-inch belt in the Central Highlands, the Western Downs and the Maranoa. The belt stretches from the N.S.W. border in a N.W. direction through the centre of the State to just north of the Great Northern Railway beyond Julia Creek and Hughenden. A final swing S.W. from Cloncurry encompasses what are known as the Boulia' sheep lands. We may conveniently divide this area into two main regiona­ l. the Southern region; II. the Central and Northern region. I. The Southern region comprises four main soil and vegetation groups­ (a) the "trap-rock" country between Warwick and Inglewood where skeletal soils occur nn indurated shales and hornfels; (b) seasonably flooded plains of the Dumaresq, Barwon, Weir, Balonne, Culgoa and Warrego rivers; (c) hrig11low (Acacia harpophylla), belah (Casuarina lepidophloia), and box (Eucalyptus populnea} and sandalwood or hudda (Eremophila mitchelli) plains just north of the Goondiwindi to Talwood area; and (d) a vast mrilga (Acacia aneura) belt at a slightly higher elevation ex­ tending westwards and north-westerly from St. George to Augathella, Adavale and Windorah. This Southern region of the sheep belt is regarded as being reasonably "safe" country because, in addition to the normal summer rains, appreciable winter rain �s likely to fall. Further, the presence of edible shrub', particularly the mulga, cushions the effect of a severe drought. A further factor in favour of the mulga belt for drought endurance is that the graziers in this area run mainly dry sheep· which can quickly he removed in unfavourable seasons. Despite the relative reliability of rainfall, however, the area can he struck by severe drought. Indeed, few parts of Queensland escape such visitations. Bird· ( 1953) has indicated the importance of drought in the Charleville district as it affects the sheep population. II. The Central and Northern region of the sheep belt stretching from Auga­ thella to the Flinders River flood plain in the Gulf comprises- ( a) the so-called "desert" country east of Barcaldine, Aramac and Hughen­ den, and a somewhat similar but rougher strip of hilly lateritic country some miles west of Longreach and Winton; (h) the Mitchell and Flinders grass downs. (a) The "Desert" Country: The "desert" country is characterised by lateritic toprock and relict sandy lateritic soils with occasional lenses of heavier soils of the red-brown earth group and grey and brown soils of heavy texture. The vegetation is mixed, but bloodwood (Eucalyptus terminalis), bauhinia (Bauhinia carronii), dead finish (Albizia basaltica), ghost gum (E. papuana), silver leaf ironhark (E. mel­ anophloia) and box (E. populnea} are common with gidyea (Acacia cam­ bagei) and sandalwood (Eremophila mitchelli) on the heavier soils. There is little herbage and the grasses are of poor quality such as Aristida jerichoensis and other wire grasses, spinifex (Triodia pungens) and, in the better areas, 90 P. SKERMAN desert blue grass ] . This country has a poor breed· ing record for sheep and is generally u e as relief grazing sheep from for downs properties (Bothriochloa ewartiana). la s nutrients, chief w i are phosp o us and nitrogen, and attemptss d have been made by Edye and Humphreys duringto dr introduceought. The lmffel soil g rassck ofn toh thech sward. Thish r project is being continued as a University research study. ( 1955)This "desert" country (1955)varies considerably and the poorer(Cenchrus types ciliaris)of soil i not buffel grass establishment unless heavy dressings of superphosphate will permit lsol)yets shown ,zo�-· d ="' Boundaryof' SheepLan s Sites 0 Experimenta-l Floode Seasonally d &galal0�1.lt.Mil,�t.o&n� pt. n an 1. Map howin the main Q e sl d wool-growing areas. Fig. s g u e CROPPING FOR FODDER CONSERVATION 91 arc applied. Some soil disturbance by buming, grading or cultivation also appears necessary.